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Show 1869.] DR. j. E. G R A Y O N T H E S P O T T E D HYAENA. 245 stops at the notch. It then flies along, with the grass streaming behind it. As the edge of the grass is much serrated, the bird has to consider and pass it through the work the right way. This serration renders it so difficult to pull a nest to pieces, and makes the same nest last for years. In some instances the male continues to build for amusement after the nest is finished, not only elongating the tubular entrance, but also making a kind of false nest. Before the colony ceased building there were more than seventy nests in the tree, which is represented in the photograph now exhibited (Plate XVII.). Three great notches may be seen on the trunk. These were made when the tree was smaller, by baring a side of the crown and tapping the trunk for toddy to be used in bread-making. This operation so weakened the tree, that last year in a violent storm the crown broke off, and thus destroyed the whole settlement. 8. Note on the Young of the Spotted Hysena {Crocuta maculata). By Dr. J. E . G R A Y , F.R.S., V.P.Z.S., &c. The British Museum has lately acquired a very young female pup of the Spotted Hysena (Crocuta maculata), which was born in the Society's Gardens. The animal is covered with a short soft fur of nearly uniform length, of a nearly uniform rather brownish-black colour, which is rather paler on the face. It is without any indication of spots. The tail is slender, tapering. There is a stuffed specimen of a rather older and larger male in the British Museum, which was preserved by M . Verreaux at the Cape; it is of the same uniform tint, but is much paler, and has become paler than it originally was on one side by exposure in the case. I may observe that the pups of the Striped Hyaena (Hycena striata) are pale and streaked like the adult. There are some specimens of very young pups of this species in the British Museum. The skull of the very young female pup is solid; and the bones are well ossified, and united in all parts by very narrow and often indistinct sutures. The bullae of the ears are peculiar for having a large space on the outer side of the under surface only covered with membrane, which has the opening of the ear in the upper part near the margin of its outer side. This disk occupies about one-third of the lower surface of the bony bullae. The cutting-teeth and the canines are well developed, the cutting-teeth in each of the jaws being placed in a straight line, the outer tooth in each series being rather the largest. The grinders are not developed above the alveoli; but their situation is indicated by the dried pulps. There are three pulps on each side of each jaw: the two front ones on each side of the upper jaw, belonging to the premolars, are small; the others in both jaws are rather large. P R O C . Z O O L . Soc-1869, No. XVII. |